VIDEO: Financial challenges further burden South Asian IBD patients
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In this Healio video series, which focuses on cultural competency in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, patient advocate Madhura Balasubramaniam shares her experience living with Crohn’s disease in India.
Balasubramaniam, who is also a member of the executive council for the South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA), said that in addition to the cultural stigmas she faced with IBD, one of the most challenging aspects of her disease was the financial burden on her and her family, as health insurance policies in India do not cover medications or routine examinations and diagnostics, such as colonoscopies.
After quitting her job, Balasubramaniam became entirely dependent on her parents physically and financially, which went against both personal and societal expectations.
“These financial challenges and cultural stigmas together became psychosocial barriers for my care, and it took a huge toll on my physical and mental well-being,” she said, noting that this encouraged her to seek out help from fellow South Asians through SAIA.
“Finding a support system and accessing educational resources were key factors that enabled me to advocate for myself and seek out better care,” Balasubramaniam said.
Healio is working closely with the SAIA for this series. There has been an increase in the incidence and prevalence of IBD among South Asians, and the community faces many barriers to treatment and surgery. SAIA focuses on creating resources, research and education for IBD patients and health care providers of South Asian origin to reduce disparities and stigma, promote early diagnosis and improve treatment access.
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For more information, visit southasianibd.org.
Healio Interview
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